Comments on: My Father’s Closet http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/ Neil Kramer is a writer in Los Angeles. Citizen of the Month is his blog. Make yourself at home. Sun, 27 Jul 2008 07:37:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: 180/360 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-217272 180/360 Sun, 02 Dec 2007 21:31:55 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-217272 Okay- well that coming here for a laugh plan backfired. This made me cry. I'm terribly afraid to lose my parents. I don't want to go through their closets. Ever. I spoke to my friend the other day who lost her mom a few years ago. She was telling me how she has all of her mother's things in boxes and just can't get rid of any of it. She keeps moving to different studios and hauls it all around with her. I felt so sad imagining that she saves more of her mothers things than her own. This also made me think of my closets and all of the stuff my children will one day find. I'd better start organizing now. Okay- well that coming here for a laugh plan backfired. This made me cry. I’m terribly afraid to lose my parents. I don’t want to go through their closets. Ever. I spoke to my friend the other day who lost her mom a few years ago. She was telling me how she has all of her mother’s things in boxes and just can’t get rid of any of it. She keeps moving to different studios and hauls it all around with her. I felt so sad imagining that she saves more of her mothers things than her own. This also made me think of my closets and all of the stuff my children will one day find. I’d better start organizing now.

]]> By: E...outside the box http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-213275 E...outside the box Sat, 28 Jul 2007 20:56:27 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-213275 It is quite funny, I read your article, and thoughts of going through my mothers closet that she would never let anyone into. Her secret hiding spot. After her passing I went into the closet feeling quite uncomfortable like I was violating some sort of off limits. I think people need a private area since our lives are so intermingled with family, children and relations, that that special place is where we can reflect on our lives and where we are going into the future. A private spot to collect your thoughts and memories. I am starting my own private spot, for my sanity. It is quite funny, I read your article, and thoughts of going through my mothers closet that she would never let anyone into. Her secret hiding spot.
After her passing I went into the closet feeling quite uncomfortable like I was violating some sort of off limits.

I think people need a private area since our lives are so intermingled with family, children and relations, that that special place is where we can reflect on our lives and where we are going into the future.

A private spot to collect your thoughts and memories. I am starting my own private spot, for my sanity.

]]> By: Hil http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-77155 Hil Thu, 20 Jul 2006 20:05:39 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-77155 Have you seen "Everything is Illuminated" yet? I couldn't help thinking about that film while reading this! Have you seen “Everything is Illuminated” yet? I couldn’t help thinking about that film while reading this!

]]> By: 2nd Pearl Past the Post http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75679 2nd Pearl Past the Post Thu, 13 Jul 2006 16:57:45 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75679 Wonderful that you have seen all those and could finally go in the closet. My dad's the same but he never talks about the things either. Wonderful that you have seen all those and could finally go in the closet. My dad’s the same but he never talks about the things either.

]]> By: jaime http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75628 jaime Thu, 13 Jul 2006 05:44:04 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75628 Beautiful and moving post Neil. It brought back memories of me going through my father's belongings when he passed away. It also reminded me of a long ago memory of when I was a little girl and finding my father's playboy magazine in the bathroom. I took it outside and showed it my friend. I remember, I remember my neighbor, Greg, who I had a big crush on, totally embarrassed and shamed us for looking at it. Funny, I still remember the centerfold. She was covered in whipped cream, but to my 8 year old mind, I thought it was shaving cream, and had no idea why she would do that. Beautiful and moving post Neil. It brought back memories of me going through my father’s belongings when he passed away.

It also reminded me of a long ago memory of when I was a little girl and finding my father’s playboy magazine in the bathroom. I took it outside and showed it my friend. I remember, I remember my neighbor, Greg, who I had a big crush on, totally embarrassed and shamed us for looking at it. Funny, I still remember the centerfold. She was covered in whipped cream, but to my 8 year old mind, I thought it was shaving cream, and had no idea why she would do that.

]]> By: Non-Highlighted Heather http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75304 Non-Highlighted Heather Wed, 12 Jul 2006 05:06:56 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75304 That was nice. That was nice.

]]> By: Neil http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75191 Neil Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:34:43 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75191 Thanks, Alan! Thanks, Alan!

]]> By: Alan http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75189 Alan Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:32:02 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75189 Neil, I was very touched by your tribute to your father. He really did love you very much and was extremely proud of all of your accomplishments. As you know, I knew your dad for many, many years and his sense of humor was slightly quirky, but , like me, he could always find the humor in most situations and yes, he did like to plan ahead. He would phone me from NYC in January and give me his flight information for his trip to see you the following Pesach. He loved your mother very much. In his heart of hearts, he always wondered how he was lucky enough to get such a beautiful girl. Remember, I met your mother and Rita in Las Vegas and they both could have passed as Vegas Showgirls then. Neil, Your dad was a gentelman and you have done honor to him and his memory in the tribute that you have paid him in your "Blog". Well done and "Be of good Cheer". Alan. Neil, I was very touched by your tribute to your father. He really did love you very much and was extremely proud of all of your accomplishments. As you know, I knew your dad for many, many years and his sense of humor was slightly quirky, but , like me, he could always find the humor in most situations and yes, he did like to plan ahead. He would phone me from NYC in January and give me his flight information for his trip to see you the following Pesach. He loved your mother very much. In his heart of hearts, he always wondered how he was lucky enough to get such a beautiful girl. Remember, I met your mother and Rita in Las Vegas and they both could have passed as Vegas Showgirls then. Neil, Your dad was a gentelman and you have done honor to him and his memory in the tribute that you have paid him in your “Blog”.
Well done and “Be of good Cheer”.
Alan.

]]> By: ashbloem http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75188 ashbloem Tue, 11 Jul 2006 19:31:41 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75188 It has only been now, a year later, that we've really been able to clean out my grandparents' home. It has been very tough for my mother, and the grandchildren. The little personal tchotkes around the house were the worst. Things that really, truly, were junk. But were so intertwined with every memory I had of the house it was hard to see them go. I kept a couple small things too. And I kept items of clothing that I associated most with them. My plan is to cut them up and make them into a quilt. A grandparents quilt. That way I can wrap myself up in them again someday. It has only been now, a year later, that we’ve really been able to clean out my grandparents’ home. It has been very tough for my mother, and the grandchildren.

The little personal tchotkes around the house were the worst. Things that really, truly, were junk. But were so intertwined with every memory I had of the house it was hard to see them go. I kept a couple small things too.

And I kept items of clothing that I associated most with them. My plan is to cut them up and make them into a quilt. A grandparents quilt. That way I can wrap myself up in them again someday.

]]> By: Non-Highlighted Heather http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75087 Non-Highlighted Heather Tue, 11 Jul 2006 14:55:08 +0000 http://www.citizenofthemonth.com/2006/07/09/my-fathers-closet/#comment-75087 Ha. Hello Sophia. No, no, not at all. The caption said he was telling the story of Purim with puppets. And I knew Esther couldn't be the ugly hag puppet so the only other choice.... Ha. Hello Sophia. No, no, not at all. The caption said he was telling the story of Purim with puppets. And I knew Esther couldn’t be the ugly hag puppet so the only other choice….

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